Market value: €20 million
Toronto FC has submitted an offer to acquire Josh Sargent from Norwich City. Transfermarkt can confirm reports from Fabrizio Romano and The Athletic that discussions are underway to transfer the US men’s national team striker to Canada. While Toronto FC is optimistic about finalizing the deal, sources from Norwich City have indicated that the narrative of an imminent agreement is overly bold, as they believe the latest bid of $18 million (€15.4 million) falls short of their valuation for the player.
Sargent was absent during Norwich’s 5-1 victory in the FA Cup over fourth-division team Walsall. Norwich manager Philippe Clement stated, “He texted me explaining he couldn’t be available today due to transfer concerns. We need to discuss this internally this week. The club has been transparent about the situation and knows where we stand; Sargent and his agent are aware of this, so he will not leave during this transfer window.”
This isn’t the first time Sargent has been close to leaving a club only for negotiations to fall apart. Last summer, Bundesliga club Wolfsburg believed they had reached an agreement for the 25-year-old striker, but the two sides could not settle on a fee, resulting in Sargent remaining in England. He subsequently scored eight goals in 27 matches for Norwich, but with the team facing relegation and a World Cup spot at stake, Sargent is once again seeking an exit.
Will Sargent Join Toronto FC? MLS Club Optimistic About Reaching a Deal
Considering the circumstances, Toronto FC feels confident in their ability to finalize a deal for Sargent. However, to complete the transfer, they must satisfy Norwich’s demands. Sargent’s current market value stands at €20 million, which is considerably higher than Toronto’s recent offer. Additionally, a potential hurdle is that St. Louis City SC holds the “right of first refusal” on Sargent if he chooses to play in Major League Soccer, meaning he must join St. Louis City or the club must be compensated if he signs with another MLS team.
In other words, Toronto FC will need to negotiate with both Norwich City and St. Louis City SC to secure Sargent’s transfer. However, Sargent would not be the first player to choose a club that does not hold his MLS rights. For instance, in 2024, Marco Reus’ rights were owned by Charlotte FC, but he had no desire to join them, and eventually signed with LA Galaxy. Similarly, last summer, Thomas Müller opted to sign with the Whitecaps rather than FC Cincinnati, the club retaining his MLS rights.
